Aircraft Seating Market: Premium Economy Expansion, Ergonomic Seating & Growth Outlook

According to IMARC Group's latest research publication, The global aircraft seating market size reached USD 6.3 Billion in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 9.7 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 4.69% during 2025-2033.

How AI is Reshaping the Future of Aircraft Seating Market

• Predictive Passenger Comfort: AI systems look at passenger data, flight length, and past preferences to automatically adjust seat firmness, back support, and temperature, giving each passenger a personalized and comfortable experience while reducing fatigue.
• Smart Seat Controls: Machine learning helps seat motors work more efficiently for reclining, legroom, and massage functions. Seats move smoothly, use less energy, and last longer thanks to intelligent power management.
• Health Monitoring: Sensors in the seats track posture, pressure, and movement. AI uses this information to suggest position changes during long flights, which can improve circulation and reduce the risk of blood clots.

Explore Updated 2026 Market Trends & Analysis

Aircraft Seating Industry Overview:

The aviation seating market is changing fast due to airlines updating their fleets and expanding premium cabins. North America holds the largest market share, thanks to advanced technology and strong manufacturing. In May 2025, Saudi low-cost airline Flynas announced it would replace old seats on 60 A320neo aircraft with new Safran Z200 seats, showing the growing trend of retrofitting older planes. Passenger numbers are also increasing. Airports Council International projects that international air travel will reach 17.7 billion passengers by 2043, creating strong demand for comfortable and lightweight seats across all cabin classes worldwide.

Aircraft Seating Market Trends & Drivers:

New materials and eco-friendly designs are transforming aircraft seat manufacturing as airlines focus on fuel efficiency and sustainability. Manufacturers are using carbon fiber, aluminum alloys, and advanced polymers to make seats lighter while keeping them safe. Seat actuation systems, worth USD 564.9 million, use electromechanical technology for efficient and reliable performance. Economy class seats now have better ergonomics, more legroom, and personal entertainment systems that were once only in premium cabins. Some seats even use energy-harvesting technology to capture power from movements and vibrations, reducing the aircraft’s energy needs and allowing automatic seat adjustments.

Airlines are investing heavily in business and first-class seating to improve passenger experience. New features include lie-flat beds, private suites, direct aisle access, and advanced entertainment systems. In 2023, Adient Aerospace launched new business class seats for narrow-body aircraft to meet demand for premium long-haul comfort. In June 2023, Collins Aerospace introduced Aurora, the first fully lie-flat business class suite for narrow-body planes. Modern premium seats also have adjustable firmness, personal temperature control, mood lighting, and health monitoring. The premium economy segment is also growing as travelers want extra comfort without paying full business class prices.

Modern aircraft seats are becoming connected, high-tech passenger platforms. Features include Bluetooth, wireless charging, touchscreen controls, and IoT sensors for real-time performance monitoring. The aviation IoT market, valued at USD 9.13 billion in 2025, is projected to reach USD 23.31 billion by 2030, showing rapid technology adoption. Airlines are offering connected in-flight entertainment, with AR features, virtual reality content, and personalized meal recommendations. In May 2023, Autoflug signed agreements with ALTHOM GmbH and ALTHOM Engineering to collaborate on safety seat design, highlighting the industry’s focus on innovation and smart technology.

Leading Companies Operating in the Global Aircraft Seating Industry:

• Acro Aircraft Seating (Zhejiang Tiancheng Controls Co. Ltd.)
• Adient Aerospace LLC (Adient plc)
• Autoflug GmbH
• Aviointeriors S.p.A.
• Geven SPA
• Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (Swire Group)
• Jamco Corporation
• Collins Aerospace (RTX Corporation)
• Recaro Holding GmbH
• Safran S.A.
• Thompson Aero Seating Limited

Aircraft Seating Market Report Segmentation:

By Aircraft Type:

• Narrow Body Aircraft
• Widebody Aircraft
• Very Large Aircraft
• Regional Transport Aircraft
• Others

Widebody aircraft accounts for the majority of the market share.

By Seating Class Type:

• Economy Class
• Premium Economy Class
• Business Class
• First Class

Economy class holds the largest share in the industry.

By Seat Type:

• 9g
• 16g

16g represents the leading market segment.

By Fit Type:

• Retro Fit
• Line Fit

Retro fit exhibits a clear dominance in the market.

By Component Type:

• Seat Actuators
• Foams and Fittings
• Others

Seat actuators dominate the market.

By End-Use Sector:

• OEM
• Aftermarket
• Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO)

OEM is the predominant market segment.

Regional Insights:

• North America (United States, Canada)
• Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Others)
• Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Russia, Others)
• Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Others)
• Middle East and Africa

North America leads the market, accounting for the largest aircraft seating market share.

Recent News and Developments in Aircraft Seating Market

• May 2025: Flynas, a Saudi low-cost carrier, announced replacement of older interiors on 60 A320neo aircraft with new Safran Z200 seats. This major retrofitting initiative reflects growing emphasis on passenger comfort and cabin modernization across budget airline segments in Middle Eastern markets.
• June 2023: Collins Aerospace unveiled Aurora, the company's first fully lie-flat business class suite designed exclusively for narrow-body aircraft. This innovation addresses rising demand for premium long-haul experiences on single-aisle aircraft, expanding business class availability on routes previously limited to economy configurations.
• May 2023: Autoflug signed comprehensive cooperation agreement with ALTHOM GmbH and ALTHOM Engineering E.P.E. for long-term collaboration in field of safety seat design and development. The partnership emphasizes continued innovation in aviation seating safety standards and ergonomic design advancement.
• 2023: Adient Aerospace introduced new business class seat designed specifically for narrow-body aircraft. The innovative seating solution enables airlines to offer premium cabin experiences on smaller aircraft, addressing market demand for flexible premium configurations across diverse route networks.
• 2023: Major aircraft seat manufacturers invested heavily in lightweight material technologies and smart actuation systems, reflecting industry-wide commitment to fuel efficiency, passenger comfort enhancement, and digital connectivity integration across all cabin classes and aircraft types globally.

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